Refrigerating unit



June 15, 1926. 8

c. F. GElGER El AL REFRIGERATING' UNIT Filed June 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 49 INVENTORS/ awe 6 Q-el- -QATTQRNEY.

June 15 1926.

, c. F. GEIGER Er'AL REFRIGERATING UNIT Filed June,17, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. F. GEIGERET AL June 15, 1926.

REFRIGERATING UNIT 3 She e'ts-Sheet 5 Filed June 17,1922

- INVENTOR\$\ 6.41 9; g

. a B?- W e 7LVATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES CARL I. GEIGER AN-D FREDERICK C. GEILER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, 'ASSIGNORS TO ICEOLA,

CORPORATION, OI DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

REFRIGERATING UNIT.

Application am June 17; 1022. Serial 1%. ,970.

10 produced in the tank by sulphur dioxide, or

a like refrigerating agent, in sufiicient quantity to act also as a cold maintainin substance. In other words. the sulphur dioxide.

has a dual function in our refrigerating unit: it produces the cold and in addition 1 adds its mass to that of the metalof the tank to rovide a storage medium that remains cold for a considerable length of'time.

Our improved unit also provides a large amount of refrigerant, thus minimizing the necessity of frequent" recharging. It also obviates the possibility of leaks such as are due to corrosion inthose tanks where brine is employed. In brine systems it is also 95 necessary to maintain a lower temperature in the bottom of the tank than necessary, in order to keep the top part of the latter frosted; otherwise the liquid will frequently run-over the top of the tank and collect on its lower outsideportion, where it will freeze and clog up the space between the tank and the inner wall of the refrigerator to shut ofi the circulation of air so essential to refrig+ eration. a: In our unit aluminum or other suitable. metal in its solid or non-circulating state is substituted for the brine to maintain a uniform temperature throughout every part of the tank, thus obviating the above disadvantages.

Other important andzincidentalobjects will be brought out inthe following specification, and particularly set forth in the sub? joined'claims. I ,I

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevatlonal view'of our refrigerating tank, partly in section. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of said tank. And

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof, partly broken away, and of the compressor with which it is in communication. I

' Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts. p

Referring to. the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of the form of embodiment of our invention illustrated therein, the numeral 1 designatesa refrigerating casing or tank that is preferably a casting rectangular in cross section and constructed of aluminum or other suitable material. The walls, bottom. and top of the casting 1 are relatively thick to provide a s'uflicient mass of metal to act as a substitute for brine as a cold maintaining medium.

' Extending from the front to the rear wall .of the casting 1, through its lower middle portion, is a freezing chamber 2. Integral with, and at right angles to, the side walls of the chamber 2 are flat ribs 3 which project from the bottom of the casting -1 tothe top thereof, .to act as reinforcing supports for the said chamber within the casting. Figures 1 and 3.) 1

Formed on the inner portions of the side walls of the freezing chamber 2, are oppositely disposed lugs 4, 4 and 5, 5 having top flat'surfaces to receive drawers (not shown) for freezing water or other substances. When these drawers are removed, the chamher 2 is suitable for the storage of poultry, meat, vegetables or other articles which require intense cold for their preservation. (See Figure 2.)

Provided in the casting 1 above the freezing chamber 2, is a float chamber 6 to which a refrigerating liquid such as sulphur dioxide' is admitted through a tubular member 7 having a flanged upper end8 which is bolted toa top plate 9 secured upon the top of the casting. The tubular member 7 at its top endcommunicates through a hole in the top plate 9, with a horizontal needle'valve tube 10 of a common type, mounted upon the top plate 9. Secured to one end of the valve tube 10 is a delivery tube'll which conducts the refrigerating agent in liquid form thereto from thedelivery side of a combination compressor and condenser 12. Av suction line 13 leads from the suction side of the (See latter to a needle valve tube 14 similar to the,

, denser water outlet tube 14". From the valve tube 14 there projects downwardly through the top plate into the float chamber 6 of the casting 1, a suction tube 15 whose lower end is always above the level of the liquid refrigerating agent therein. (See Figure 2.)

Through the tubular member 7 the liquid refrigerating agent 16, which in this-instance is sulphur dioxide, is admitted to the interior of the casting 1 until it comes to the approximate level indicated through a glass :sight' member 17 secured behind a sight hole in the upper portion of the front wall of the casting 1. (See Figure 2.) When the level of the refrigerating agent reaches this point, a ball 18 will be forced by the float means soon to be described, against an inverted conical seat 19 in the lower end of the tubular member 7 to close the outlet opening therein.

Referring to Figure 1, the ball 18 normally rests upon the to of a plunger 20 vertically movable through guides 21, 21 that project laterally from a downwardly-projecting extension 22 of the tubular member 7 Pivotally secured by a pin 23 to the lower end of the extension 22 of the tubular member 7,-is a lever arm 24 to which the lower end of the plunger 20 is pivotally attached. The lever arm 24 inclines upwardly at its outer end to support a float ball 25. Now, when the refrigerating liquid reaches the level before mentioned, the float ball 25 will be elevated by it to raise the free end of the lever arm 24, and through it, the plunger 20 to force the ball 18 against the conical seat 19 in the tubular member 7, to prevent the 'further flow of the liquid refrigerating agent therefrom into the casting until the level of said liquid again falls below the desired level.

The liquid sulphur dioxide within the tank 1 evaporates readily, and during this evaporation first absorbs the heat contained within itself, and then extracts it from the interior of the chamber 2 and the atmosphere surrounding the exterior of the -casting. This absorption of heat is facilitated by the fact that the aluminum of which the casting is constructed, is a good conductor of heat. Furthermore, the mass of aluminum required for the construction of the casting, is sufficient to assist the large quantity of sulphur dioxide within the casting, in maintaining the latter at a low temperature for a considerable length of time. It is thus seen that in our refrigerating unit, the mass of metal acts as an eflicient substitute for brine, with none of the disadvantages of the latter.

We do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement here in shown and described, and any changes r modifications may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described our invention, we claim 1,. A refrigerating unit comprising a hollow casing, a freezing chamber within the latter, a combination compressor and condenser, and means for admitting a liquid refrigerating agent from said' combination compressor and condenser to the interior of the hollow casing around the freezing chamber, the latter and the hollow casing being constructed of a thick mass of metal to act as a substitute for brine.

2. A refrigerating unit comprising a hollow casing, a freezlng chamber within the latter, a float chamber above the freezing chamber within the casing, a combination compressor and condenser, and float means for admitting a liquid refrigerating agent from the combination compressor and condenser to the interior of sald casing around the freezing chamber, said casing and cham bers being constructed of a thick mass of metal to act as a substitute for brine.

3. A refrigerating unit comprising a hollow casting, an integral freezing chamber within said casting extending from the front to the rear wall thereof, a compressor and condenser unit-for admitting a liquid refrigerating agent to the interior of the hollowing casting around the freezing chamber, and a series of reinforcin ribs integral with the side walls of said chamber, projecting from the bottom to the top of said casting, the latter, the freezing chamber and the ribs being constructed of a thick mass of metal to act as a substitute for brine.

' 4. In combination with a compressor and condenser unit, a hollow casing constructed of a thick mass of metal to receive a refrigerating agent from the compressor and condenser unit, and a freezing chamber within said casing around which the liquid refrigerating agent circulates, said freezing .chamber being constructed of a thick mass of metal to co-operate with the mass of metal of the casing, and with the refrigerating agent, in maintaining the temperature of the casing at a low point for a considerable length of time.

5. A refrigeratin unit comprisin an integral structure fas ioned with a p urality of upright walls spaced apart to form interior refrigerant chambers and transverse walls to complete the unit, such structure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with the refrigerating agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

6. A refrigerating unit comprising an integral structure cast of aluminum and fashioned with a plurality of upright walls spaced apart to form interior refrigerant chambers and transverse walls to complete the unit, such structure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with the refrigeratmg agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

7 A refrigerating unit comprising a structure fashioned with a plurality of upright walls spaced apart to form interior refrigerant chambers and transverse elements to interconnect the upright portions to form we an interior open freezing chamber, such structure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with the refrigerating agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

8. A refrigerating unit comprising a structure fashioned at each side by a plurality of walls spaced apart to form interior refrigerant chambers, with transverse elements by which said side portions intercommunicate, and are interconnected to form an interior open freezing chamber, suchstructure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with the refrigerating agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

9. A refrigerating unit comprising cast aluminum upright portions each formed of two walls spaced apart to constitute refrigerant chambers, and transverse elements which connect the upright portions and also form intercommunication between the chambers within the side portions, an open freezing chamber being formed within said structure, the structure forming a mass'of metal which cooperates with the refrigerating agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

10. A refrigerating unitcomprising an integral hollow block to constitute interior refrigerant chambers, and having transverse elements which interconnect and mtercommunicate the side portlons and their chambers, a part of the side and transverse portions forming within them an open freezing chamber, such structure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with'the refrigtank and the upright and transverse portions enclosing an open ended freezing chamber adapted to receive removable drawers; such structure forming a mass of metal which cooperates with the refrigerating agent to aid in maintaining the required low temperature.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 15th day of June, 1922.

f CARL F. GEIGER.

FREDERICK c. GEILER.

tion of the structure forming a re rigerant 

